The Olympics

The American cycling team turn up in China wearing antipollution masks and are made to apologise. ITN run the story and talk to one of the IOC guys pointing out the scummy white cloud hanging over everything and is told it's just mist caused by the humidity. Said ITN reporter tests the air quality. Safe air is designated at 50 or under, London is 53, Beijing varied between 200 and 400 (video on the ITV site, but it uses Silverlight). It's just mist, really gritty mist.

Okay slightly unfair, other reports show readings of 44-60 and only as high as 100 so it seems it depends a lot on weather, but apparently even the IOC are talking about rescheduling some events if it gets too high.

[Additional from the Daily Mash

Olympic president Jacques Rogge said: "I am assured the pollution levels will only affect those engaged in vigorous physical activity."

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On the Olympic note President Bush criticises China authorities

"The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings."

Annoyingly even when he says something that I agree with I still want to give him a slap, in this instance it was due to the semi-smirk he pulled after uttering this sentence. It's just so frat-boy 'Huh huh I'm just off to this big party and I'm dissing the hosts and there's nothing they can do about it'